Hair curler



Patented July 29, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HAIR CURLER LeonaHaGi-ant, Highland Park, Mich. Appiicationocwbers, 1945, serial No. 620,477 claims. (o1. 132,33)

The invention relates to new andy useful improvements in hair curlers.

The usual procedure when using hand curlers is to wrap la tress of hair around the curler beginning at the free or outer end of the hair. Although generally satisfactory, this method has a number of disadvantages. For instance, the tress cannot be wound tightly to substantially the inner or root end of thehair due to interference of the curler itself. Moreover, the shorter hair tends to fall away during the winding step and consequently is not included in the curl.

An important object of this invention is to'provide a hair curler that will roll the tress of hair around the curler beginning at the inner or root end of the hair.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hair curler that will curl the hair substantially to the root end thereof.

Still another object of the invention is to lprovide a curler that will eliminate any tendency for short hair in the tress to fall away when the latter is Wound on the curler.

Yet another object of the invention ls to provide a hair curler of the above mentioned character that is simple in construction; etllcient in operation and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description. l

In the drawing forming a. part of this specification and wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame, L

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a hair curler embodying the invention and illustrating the initial procedure in forming a tress of hair into a curl;

Fig. 21s a view similar to Fig. 1 but illustrating .a latter phase of the procedure `vand showing the curl partially formed: y g f Fig.`3 isa, view similar to Figs. l and 2 but illustrating theflnal procedure and showing thecurl completely formed; 'I

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectionalv view taken'on the line 4-4 of Fig.'3; f

Fig. 5 isa side elevation of the curler; and,

Fig. 6 isA an exploded longitudinal sectional view ofthesa'me. v

Y Considered in certain of its broader aspectsthe invention comprises 'an elongated substantially of hair to be curled. The rotatable section of the body is disposed above the stationary portion and includes a substantially hook-shaped hair winding element. The latter is adapted to receive the tress of hair and upon manipulation of the rotatable section to wrap or wind the tress around the stationary section.

In practice the tress of hair is placed manually in the hooked end of the winding element.. The shank of the winding element extends downwardly in slight spaced relation with the stationary body section and positions the hooked end adjacent the root ends of the hair. When the rotatable section is actuated, it revolves the winding element around the stationary lower end of the body, and as the winding element revolves, the tress slides through the hooked end thereof until it is entirely wrapped around the Ibody.

When the operation is completed the tress is in the form of a curl and then while holding the curler in place with one hand, the forenger and middle linger of the other hand are moved over the curler in straddling relation thereto so as to push the curl against the head and then the curler is withdrawn. Then while still holding the curl with said two fingers, a bobby pin is applied to hold the curl.

`For a more detailed description of the invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing wherein the elongated substantially cylindrical body is designated generally by the numeral I0. The lower section of the (body I 0 is stationary and includes a slightly tapered portion I2 and an axially extending spindle or pivot I4. I'he upper portion of the body I0 comprises a tubular member I6 and is mounted for rotation on the spindle I4. At the junction of spindle I4 and the end portion I2, the latter is provided with a radial shoulder I8 against which the adjacent end of member I6 seats. The distal end of spindle I4 projects beyond the tubular member I6 and a substantially hemispherical cap 20 is press fitted on rtheprojecting portion. It will be observed thatslight clearance is provided between the cap 20 and the adjacent end of member I6 so that the latter is freely rotatable. All of the parts I2, I6

and 2D are preferably of substantially the same diameter to provide a streamlined and pleasing appearance.

At the lower end of the rotatable body section i6 is a hair winding element 22. The latter is generally hook-shaped and the shank 24 thereof extends longitudinally and in slight spaced relation with the stationary body section I2. Shank 24 terminates short of the end of section I2 and the hook portion 26 extends radially outwardly from the body. The hook portion 26 curves backwardly and the end 28 thereof is disposed in slight spaced relation with the shank 24. At its inner side the end 28 is provided with a at surface 30 which co-operates with the opposite surface of shank 24 to provide a narrow passage 32 leading to the hook portion 26, and the terminal portion of end 28 curves outwardly away from shank 24 to provide a substantially funnel-shaped entrance to the passage.

Attention is now directed to Fig. 1 which shows the initial procedure during operation of the curler. The stationary section I2 of body I0 is placed endways against the scalp which is designated generally by the numeral 34 and adjacent to a tress of hair 36 which is to be fashioned into a curl. The tress 36 is then passed through the passage 32 and placed in the hooked portion 26. This operation is facilitated by the outwardly projecting end 28 which serves to guide the tress into passage 32. The latter is preferably sufficiently narrow so that the tress cannot inadvertently retract or withdraw therethrough during operation of the curler.

The rotatable section I6 of the body I0 is then rotated to revolve the hair Winding element 22 around the stationary body section I2. As the element 22 revolves, the tress of hair 36 slides through the hook 26 and is wound tightly around the stationary body section I2. The first convolution of hair falls naturally adjacent the lower end of section I2, and each succeeding convolution is disposed successively upwardly on the section, as shown in Fig. 2. Thus, by the time the entire tress 36 has been wrapped around the body as shown in Fig. 3, the upper convolutions of hair are disposed between the body section I2 and shank 24. The latter holds the tress securely clamped against the body until a bobby pin or other suitable clamping device can be inserted through the curl. After the curl has been securely fastened, the curler is withdrawn and it will be readily appreciated that withdrawal of the curler is facilitated by the downward taper of the stationary body section I2 about which the hair is wrapped.

It may thus be seen that the instant invention forms the curl in such manner that the latter begins at substantially the root ends of the hair. Moreover, the curl is formed from the root ends of the tress so that the relatively shorter hair is bound tightly into the curl as it is formed. This prevents the occurrence of loose or stray hairs which are not included in the curl. The operation of forming the curl can be quickly and easily performed and the device itself is exceedingly simple in construction. The latter vfeature greatly reduces the manufacturing cost which is an item of considerable importance in a device of this nature.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferredexample of the same and that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to withoutA departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A hair curler comprising an elongated shank adapted to be pressed at one end endwise against the head of a person, a sleeve turnable on the shank, means for axially positioning the sleeve on the shank so that a substantial shank portion is exposed beyond the end of the sleeve at that end of the shank adapted to be pressed against the head, said exposed shank portion being adapted to have a tress of hair curled thereon, and a hook element on the sleeve and extending lengthwise over the exposed shank portion for engaging the tress of hair and winding it about such shank portion when the sleeve is rotated relative to the shank.

A2. A hair curler comprising an elongated shank adapted to be pressed endwise at one end against the head of a person and to have a tress of hair curled about a substantial linear portion at such end, a shoulder at the inner end of such linear portion, a sleeve turnable on the shank and engageable with said shoulder so as to limit axial movement of the sleeve towards said end of the shank, and means on the sleeve and extending axially over the linear portion of the shank for engaging a tress of hair and curling it about said linear portion when the sleeve is turned on the shank.

3. A hair curler comprising an elongated shank adapted to be pressed endwise at one end against the head of a person and to have a tress of hair curled about a substantial linear portion at such end, a shoulder at the inner end of such linear portion, a sleeve turnable on the shank and engageable with said shoulder so as to limit axial movement of the sleeve towards said end of the shank, and a hook element on the Sleeve having a leg and return hook end disposed axially over said linear shank portion with the hook end directed towards the other end of the shank and with the leg of the hook disposed in substantially uniformly spaced relation with respect to the linear shank portion, said hook being adapted to engage a tress of hair and to wind it about the exposed shank portion when the sleeve is turned on the shank, the space between the leg of the hook and shank portion being adapted to hold the curls against such shank portion.

4. A hair curler comprising an elongated shank adapted to be 4pressed at one end endwise against the head of a person, a sleeve turnable on the shank, means for axially positioning the sleeve on the shank so that a substantial shank portion is exposed beyond the end of the sleeve at that end of the 4shankadapted to be pressed against the head, said exposed shank portion being adapted to have a tress of hair curled thereon, and a hook on the sleeve having a leg and return hook end disposed axially over said exposed shank portion of the shank with the hook end directed towards the other end of the shank and with the leg of the hook disposed in substantially uniformly spaced relation with respect to said exposed shank portion of the shank, said hook being'adapted to engage a tress of hair and to wind it about the shank portion when the sleeve is turned on the shank, the space between the leg of the hook and the end portion of the shank being adapted to hold the curls against' such shank portion. y

` 5. A hair curler comprising'an elongated shank portion havingan enlarged end portion of substantial length adapted to be pressed endwise against the head of a person and to have a tress of hair curled aboutit, said enlarged portion providing a shoulder at its inner end, a sleeve turnable on the shank beyond said enlarged portion the leg of the hook being spaced substantially l5 2,233,446

uniformly from the enlarged shank portion so as to hold the curls against the latter.

LEONA H. GRANT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 Number Name Date 1,652,279 Jacobs Dec. 13, 1927 1,814,116 Borden July 14, 1931 1,842,408 Keele Jan. 26, 1932 1,956,258 Shelton Apr, 24, 1934 Gemerchak June 30, 1942 

